Anchoring means for false teeth



March 22, 1938. P. B. ADAMS I ANCHORING MEANS FOR FALSE TEETH 7 Filed Jan. 16, 1937 P. B. ADAM-sf atented Mar. 22, 1935 ANCHORING MEANE FOR FALSE TEETH ey B. Adams, fituttgart, Aria Application January 16, 1937, Serial No. ifiitil'ifi 6 Claims. (CL lit-2i The present invention relates to a device for holding false teeth in position in the mouthot the user, and more particularly to such a device that operates on the principle of a snap fastener.

The object of the invention is to provide such a device which will hold the plates securely, yet releasably in position.

Another object is to provide such a device that is simple in construction and easy to manufacture.

' Still another object is to provide such a device having means for adjusting the position of the plate with relation to the jaw of the user.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the interior parts are enclosed and protected from moisture. a

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing upper and lower plates held in position by the device.

, Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the device in use.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section of the spring clip.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the retaining.

thimble mounted in the user's jaw.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the device and the method of operation.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the tempo rary closure for the retaining thimble.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the difierent parts of the device disassembled.

Describing the drawing more particularly, the parts designated 8 and 9 are respectively upper and lower false teeth plates. In order to hold these in place the following structure is pro vided. A thimble l0, preferably made of silver, is exteriorly threaded, and is intended to be embedded in the jawbone ll ofthe user. The thimble I is provided with a central threaded socket I2 and with one or more longitudinal drainage passages Hi. The drainage passages are intended to allow drainage during the healing period, after the thimbles ill have been inserted into the jawbone.

A threaded rod M is screwed into the socket it of the thimble and carries on its outward end a headed cap i having an enlarged shoulder Hi.

The cap l5 may bethreaded to the rod by means of a socket l'l. It will be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 5 that when the rod l4 and head l5 are assembled with the thimble it], the shoulder It operates to close the drainage passages III-Land that the assembly provides a headed stud projecting below the jaw of the user.

The plates d and d are provided with spring clips which cooperate with the headed caps l5 and constitute snap fasteners. For cooperation with each one of the stud devices there is embedded in the plate an interiorly threaded socket thimble l8. Adjustably threaded into each of these thimbles is a casing member i9 having a top wall and a bottom wall 2!. The top wall 203 has a central opening 22 of proper size to permit passage of the head of the cap I5,-and to be closed by the shoulder l6. Depressions 23 are provided in the top wall 20 to receive studs on a suitable implement for turning the casing in order to adjust its vertical position.

Within the casing i9 is mounted a. circular spring 24 having inwardly turned ends 25 to form a spring clip for engaging and releasably holding the headed cap iii. The bottom wall 2i of the casing has a depressed portion 26 to receive the end of the headed cap l5 for the purpose of firmly supporting it.

In Figure 6 is shown a method or temporarily closing the stud-receiving socket i2 and the drainage passages I3 of the thimble Hi. This is a headed screw 21 which is threaded into the socket l2 and which has a head large enough to cover the openings of the passages l-3. It is desirable to use this closure when for any reason the false teeth are not in position and also during the period after the thimble III has been inserted into the jaw, during the healing process.

The drainage passages l3 are useful as sockets for cooperation with a suitable implement for turning the socket and threading it into the jawbone.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that when the false teeth are in place and the headed cap l5 is engaged with the spring 24, the device presents a completely water-tight exterior, the drainage Passages l3 being closed by one side of the shoulder i6 and the opening 22 being closed by the other side thereof. a

The device has many advantages. It enables false teeth plates to be securely, yet removably held in position in the mouth of the user without discomfort, and enables plates without artificial palates and gums to be' used. The threaded rod H and the cap l5 are adjustable relatively to each other and to the thimble Hi, and the casing I9 is adjustable in the socket 18, thus allowing adjustment to be made in case of shrinkage of the tissues of the gums, as well as when the device has first been installed. Due to the fact that the plates are supported upon the tissues of the jaw, there is no pressure incident to chewing placed upon the fasteners. The device being completely enclosed in exteriorly smooth casings, is sanitary and easily cleaned, and afiords no lodging places for bacteria. It is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and may be easily disassembled for replacement or adjustment of any of its parts.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for securing false teeth in place, a stud member and an interfitting socket member, and a mounting for one of the said members comprising an anchoring thimble for embedment in the jaw and having a central socket for receiving the member and a drainage passage through the wall of the thimble at the side of the socket.

2. In a device for securing false teeth in place, an anchoring thimble forembedment in the jaw and having a stud-receiving socket and a drainage passage, a stud mounted in the socket and having an enlarged shoulder closing the drainage passage.

false teeth, comprising an interiorly threaded thimble for embedment in the set of false teeth, a casing having exterior threads engaging the threads of the thimble, a top wall having a central opening, and a bottom wall having a headreceiving socket, and a resilient clasp mounted in the casing for releasably engaging the head of a stud secured to the jaw of the user.

4. In a device for securing false teeth in place, a stud member comprising an anchoring thimble for embedment in the jaw and having a socket, a pin adjustably mounted in the socket, and a head adjustably mounted on the pin.

5. In a device for holding false teeth in place, the combination of an anchoring thimble for embedment in the jaw and having a drainage passage and a stud-receiving socket, a headed stud mounted in the socket and closing the drainage passage, and a spring socket cooperating with the stud and mounted in a plate of false teeth.

6. In a device vfor holding false teeth in place, the combination of an anchoring thimble for embedment in the jaw, and having a stud-receiving socket and a drainage passage, a headed stud mounted in the socket and closing the drainage opening, and a socket cooperating with the headed stud comprising a thimble for mounting in a set of false teeth, a casing adjustably mounted in the thimble, and a spring clip device mounted in the casing for releasably engaging the headed stud.

PINKNEY B. ADAMS. 

